USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene County, Ohio > Part 67
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Judge Samuel Kyle, the grandfather of our subject, came to Ohio in 1804 and lo- cated in what is now Cedarville township. Greene county, removing to this state from Kentucky. He was one of the most exten- sive and prominent farmers of this section of the state, owning and operating twelve hundred acres of land. He was also a sur- veyor in the early days and was actively connected with surveying the county, his efforts contributing in no small degree to the progress and improvement of the com- munity. In public affairs he was most faith- ful, reliable and capable, as is indicated by thirty-five years' service as associate judge. He left the impress of his individuality upon the judicial history as well as upon the improvement of the county along material lines and passed away at the age of seventy- eight years.
James Kyle, the father of our subject.
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followed farming throughout his entire life, being for many years a representative of agricultural interests in Cedarville town- ship, but later he retired, living in Xenia in the enjoyment of the fruits of his farm la- bor. He died September 4, 1897, aged sev- enty-seven years. His wife died in 1860. He had three children: Dr. J. M. Kyle, a Presbyterian missionary of Brazil, South America: Mary Ellen, who died in 1865 at the age of seven years; and C. Il., the sub- ject of this review.
C. H. Kyle pursued the greater part of his education in the schools of Cedarville. but afterward entered Wooster University. at Wooster, Ohio, an institution under the care of the Presbyterian church. lle there pursued a classical course and won the de- gree of Master of Arts in 1879. After his graduation he began the study of law in the office of Judge Munger, of Nenia, who di- rected his reading for two years, and on the expiration of that period he became a member of the senior class of the Cincinnati Law School, in which he was graduated in 1882 with the degree of LL.B. When he completed his law course and had ben ad- mitted to the bar he came to Xenia in 1883. and for almost twenty years has been a prac- titioner at the bar of Greene county. He is actively connected with a profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or com- munity, and one which has long been consid- ere:] as conserving the public welfare by fur- thering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. His reputation as a law- yer has been won through earnest, honest labor, and his standing at the bar is a mer- ited tribute to his ability.
On the 9th of August, 1886, Mr. Kyle was married to Emma J. McMillan, of
Nenia, a daughter of James and C. Mary McMillan, the former a retired merchant of this city. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kyle has been blessed with three children, as follows: James Porter. Mary Olive, and Ruth McMillan, all attending the public schools of Xenia. The parents hokl mem- bership in the Third United Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Kyle is one of the trustees. For a number of years he has also been a member of the board of the Young Men's Christian Association. He is one of the board of directors and the attorney for the Citizens' National Bank of Xenia. His clientage has become of a distinctively repre- sentative character and claims his entire at- tention, and in the legal profession he has advanced to a position prominent among the most skillful lawyers in his district.
JOHN R. RIDENOUR.
In an analyzation of the life, the work and the character of John R. Ridenour it is evident that undaunted enterprise. indom- itable purpose and resolute principles have ever been potent elements in his career and have been the means of advancing him to a prominent position in the county in which he makes his home. He is now serving as postmaster of Alpha and there conducts a grocery store, being a well known factor in mercantile interests of that place.
Mr. Ridenour was born in Beavercreek township. July 20, 1835, and is a son of Henry and Mary Ann ( Hyland ) Ridenour. His father was born in Martinsburg, Berke- ley county, West Virginia, in November. 1804, and the mother was born in Wash- ington county, Maryland, near Hagerstown.
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Henry Riden muir came to Ohio in the year 1828, at which time he located in Seneca county, where he engaged in farming. After two years, however, he returned to Mary- land and was there married in March, 1830. Imme liately afterward he brought his bride to Ohio and this time settled in Knox coun- ty, but in the spring of 1833 he removed to Greene county, taking up his abode near where the village of . Alpha now stands. Here he engaged in the operation of rented land until 1855. when with the capital he had ac- quired through his own efforts, he purchased sixty-five acres of land. To this he after- ward added and at the time of his death was the owner of a good farm of ninety- five acres. He gave his political support to the Democratic principles as advocated by Jackson until 1856, when he espoused the cause of the new Republican party and was one of its stanch adherents throughout his remaining days. His death occurred De- cember 8. 1880, and his wife, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. (lied March 1. 1876, their remains being in- terred in Beaver cemetery. In their family were three sons and two daughters: Anna I' .. a resident of Xenia : John R., of this re- view : Upton H., who was killed in a runa- way accident in December, 1862; Thomas Jefferson, of Osborn, this county ; and Mary E., who is living in Nenia.
After acquiring a common school educa- tion. John R. Ridenour devoted his entire time to farm work until he entered the army. He attempted to enlist in 1862 but did not pass muster and it was not until the 2d of May, 1804, that he was received as one of the defenders of the Union in the field of battle. In June, 1863, he had become a member of the National Guard in the town- ship and was mustered in at Camp Denni-
sin in the following May as second ver- geant of Company D. One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry. The regiment participated in the battle of New Creek and was engaged in scouting and guard duty. In September, 1864, Mr. Riden our was mus- tered out and returned home, resuming the quiet pursuits of the farm, where he re- mained for a year and a half. After his marriage he then purchased property near the fair grounds at Nenia. continuing to engage in the tilling of the soil there until 1886, when he sold that farm and bought land in the western part of Beavercreek township, making his home at that place for three and one-half years. On the expiration of that period he came to Alpha and in Sep- tember. 1880. began the erection of the building which he now occupies as a store and postoffice.
On the 30th of September, 1874. MIr. Ridenour was wedded to Miss Sarah J. Prugh. of Montgomery county, Ohio .. She is a member of the Methodist Protestant church and is a most estimable lady. Mr. Ridenour belongs to the Grand Army Post. to the Old Guard of Dayton, and is identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In politics he has been a stalwart Re- publican. He became a resident of Alpha in September. 1889, and the following Novem- ber was appointed by Benjamin Harrison as postmaster, serving continuously until Cleveland's administration. During the Mckinley administration, Frank Merrick was appointed to the position, but on ac- count of the criticisms which his adminis- tration invoked, he was removed and Mr. Ridenour was again appointed and has served continuously since September, 1898. In 1871 he was elected justice of the peace and for three terms filled that position. He
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also filled out an unexpired term as town- ship clerk, while for one term he was town- ship trustee. In public office he has ever been found faithful, capable and trustwor- thy. He is public-spirited in an eminent degree. National progress and local ad- vancement are causes both dear to his heart. Kindness, amiability and courtesy not only characterize his social relations but are a marked factor in his business life.
WILLIAM V. RHODES.
William Vinicum Rhoades was born No- vember 10, 1811. in Burlington county, New Jersey, and was a grandson of John Rhoades, a native of England, who, on crossing the Atlantic to America, took up his abode in New Jersey. He had a family of three sons. James, Stephen and John, and two daughters, one of whom became the wife of Charles Parker, of South Amboy, New Jersey, and their son, Joel Parker, was one of the governors of that state. The other daughter married William Vinicum, an attorney, for whom William Vinicum Rhoades was named. Stephen Rhoades mar- ried Elizabeth Cooper, who was of Holland lineage, and their children were Isaac, Will- iam V., Jacob, Martha, Abigail, Elizabeth, Lavisa and Margaret. In the fall of 1816. Stephen started with his family from Now Jersey to Ohio, making the journey by wa- gon to Pittsburg. At that point their goods were transferred to a boat bound for Cin- cinnati, while the horses were driven over- land to the same place. Later they removed to Warren county, Ohio, where at the age of fourteen years, William V. Rhoades be- gan to learn the trade of wagon and plow
making under the direction of Joseph Gif- fins, at Ridgeville, completing a three years' apprenticeship there. He afterward worked for three years for Isaac Dunwiddie at Cen- terville, and then came to Nenia, where he entered the employ of Robinson & Lucas. Soon after, however, he began business on his own account on West Water street in a building a little west of Galloway street, and almost opposite the Barr property.
On the 2nd of January. 1833. William V. Rhoades was united in marriage to Eliz- abeth Gowdy, a daughter of Robert and Nancy Gowdy, the wedding being celebrated at the home of the bride at the corner of De- troit and Water streets, the officiating min- ister being the Rev. John Steel, of the Asso- ciate Reformed church, and they were at- tended by Alexander Zimmerman and Mar- tha Gowdy. Their first home was a little frame house which stood about a block east of Detroit street, on Main street, where William Horner's grocery is now located. With the exception of a few years spent in St. Paris, Champaign county, they lived all their married life in Nenia. Eleven children were born unto them, of whom two died in infancy. Elizabeth Ariminta was born July 8. 1834, and was married December 4, 1861. to Fred E. Hubbard, removing to Delaware county, Ohio. Robert Gowdy was born March 6. 1837, and was married to Sarah Abigail Roberts, September 17, 1867, their home being now in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary McBride. born September 3, 1839. be- came the wife of David Sherman. Novem- ber 8. 1876, and they now reside in Xenia. James Marion was born February 1. 1841. and at the outbreak of the Civil war he en- listed in Company F. Thirty-fourth Regi- ment of Ohio Volunteers, known as Piatt's First Zouaves. He died in the hospital at
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Murfreesboro, March 23, 1863. and was the native sons of this county. There his buried in the national cemetery there. Sa- birth occurred in Jasper township. August 22, 1844, his parents being Joseph and Han- nah (Boggs) Dean, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio, while both were of Scotch-Irish extraction. The pater- nal. grandfather of our subject was one of the honored pioneers of this county. Com- ing from Kentucky in 1812, accompanied by his wife and eleven children, they set- tled in what is now New Jasper township. and there all of the children were reared to mature years and married and had families of their own, averaging eleven children each. There were thirty-six members of the fam- ily who served in the Union army, and all continued through the term of enlistment. and returned home, with the exception of one, who died at the front. Thirty of the number are still living-honored veterans of the war which preserved the Union.
rah Margaret, born March 6, 1847, resides in Xenia. John Brown was born February 20, 1849, and married Adelaide Bell Dol- son, January 13, 1874. For several years he was agent for the American Express Company at Xenia but is now living in Col- lumbus. Ohio. Charles William, born Jan- uary 19. 1854. was married June 5, 1883. to Mary Frankenburger and is now living in Peru. Indiana. Eliza Alice, born August 9, 1856, was married January 22. 1880, to James Perry Howell, of Xenia. Albert Clinton, born December 28, 1861. wedded Mary Belle Haines, March 14. 1888. For the past eight years he has been connected with the F. C. Trebein Company of Xenia and Trebeins. They reside on a farm form- erly owned by John Eavey. just outside of the city limits on the Wilmington pike. William V. Rhoades, the father of this fam- ily, was engaged in the manufacture of wagons and plows in Xenia for more than fifty years, being a leading representative of its industrial interests and an honorable business man whose integrity and reliability were above question. He was a life-long Democrat and died April 10. 1889. while his wife. Eliza Gowdy Rhoades, passed away February 6, 1890.
JUDGE JOSEPH N. DEAN.
Joseph N. Dean is now serving for the second term as judge of the probate court of Greene county, and is one of the leading members of the bar of his district. He makes his home in Xenia, and is numbered among
Joseph Dean, the father of our subject. accompanied his parents to Ohio and throughout his entire life followed farm- ing, although in early life he had learned both blacksmithing and shoemaking, which pursuits he followed for a few years in con- nection with farming. He was one of the most prosperous farmers of the county and was a natural mechanic. having particular ability along that line. He could do any- thing required about the farm, and his effi- ciency in this direction enabled him to keep his place in first-class condition. In his family were nine children who reached ma- ture years, while two died in infancy. The father passed away at the age of seventy- eight years, nine months and twenty-three days, while the mother was called to her final rest when she had reached the age of ser- enty-nine years, one month and four days.
JOSEPH N. DEAN.
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The Judge was the eighth in order of Immediately afterward he opened an office birth in their family of eleven children. IIe in Xenia and has since been a member of the Greene county bar. In 1882 he was elected prosecuting attorney and served in that ca- pacity for six years. His preparation of cases is most thorough and exhaustive : he seems almost intuitively to grasp the strong points of law and fact, while in his briefs and arguments the authorities are cited so extensively and the facts and reasoning thereon are presented so cogently and in- answerably as to leave no doubt as to the correctness of his views or of his conclu- sion. No detail seems to escape him ; every case is given its due prominence and the case is argued with such skill, ability and power that he rarely fails to gain the verdict de- sired. In 1896 he was elected probate judge and filled the office so acceptably that he was re-elected in 1899. He is thoroughly familiar with the law, which comes into play in the probate court and his decisions have been strictly fair and impartial, win- ning him high commendation. acquired his early education in the schools of New Jasper township and when seven- teen years of age he offered his services to his country, enlisting on the 17th of .Au- gust, 1861, as a member of Company B, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Hayworth and Colonel Cranor. Ile was mustered in at Columbus and the regi- ment was first assigned to the command of General Garfield. The first battle in which he participated was at Prestonburg, Ken- tucky. Later the regiment was assigned to the Fourth Army Corps, under Gordan Granger, and with that command Judge Dean participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and various engagements of the Atlanta campaign, including the battle of Atlanta. Later he met the enemy in a battle at Love- joy Station and Jonesboro, and on the 17th of October, 1864. he was mustered out. He was wounded in the face at Chickamauga, and was again hit by rebel lead at Lookout Mountain, where he aided in capturing three pieces of artillery. He was recom- viended for the commission in recognition of his gallantry and bravery on that occa- sion.
After his return home Judge Dean con- tinued his education, becoming a student in Smith College, at Xenia, while later he was a student in Iron City College, at Pittsburg, where he completed his literary course and was graduated in 1867. He then began read- ing law under Hon. R. F. Howard at Xenia and for a time devoted his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, but wishing to make the practice of law his life work, in 1876 he entered the Cincinnati Law School, in which he was graduated with the class of 1879.
On the 17th of July. 1867, Judge Dean was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Clea- ver, of Clinton county, Ohio, a daughter of James Cleaver, of Wilmington, Ohio. She died on the Ist of July, 1874, leaving one son, Walter P., who is now deputy probate judge of Greene county. On the 7th of June, 1888, Judge Dean was again mar- ried. his second union being with Mary Gaumer, a daughter of Jonathan and Ma- hala Gaumer, of Muskingum county, Ohio. Three of her brothers are electors and in the family eight became teachers. Two have also been connected with the legislature, one is a member of the house and the other of the senate. Mr. and Mrs. Dean hold mem- bership in the First United Presbyterian church of Xenia, as does his son. The
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Judge also belongs to the Union Veterans' Legion and the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. Ile is likewise a member of the Asso- ciation of Ex-Soldiers and Sailors, of which he was one of the organizers and has served as its president. Ile was a member of the Committee of One Hundred and did most effective work in the cause of temperance. especially at the time of the memorable elec- tion of 1902, when it was definitely decided that Xenia should be free from the curse of the saloon. His loyalty in citizenship is of the same kind that prompted his enlistment in the hour of his coutnry's peril. At the bar he has achieved success through hon- prable efforts, untiring industry and capa- bility and in private life he has gained that warm personal regard which arises from kindness and geniality, deference for the opinions of others and from true nobility of character.
A. H. BE.AL.
A fine farm of one hundred and twenty- five acres is the property of .1. H. Beal and is located in Sugarcreek township, not far from Xenia. Mr. Beal was born in Caesars- creek township. May 2, 1837. His father. George Beal, was a native of Pennsylvania and married Rachel Driscoll, who was born in this state and was of Irish lineage. With his parents the father came to Ohio in his boyhood and the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Beal was probably celebrated in Clark coun- ty. although they began their domestic life in Greene county, where all of their children were born. Throughout the years of his business career the father carried on agri- cultural pursuits. He reached the very ad- vanced age of eighty-two years, passing
away in 1875. He had had but a limited education in his youth but he made the most of his opportunities and possessed that ster- ling honesty and worth of character which everywhere wins respect and confidence. He voted with the Democracy. In the fam- ily were thirteen children, one of whom died at the age of thirteen years, while five of the number are still living.
.A. H. Beal was the eleventh in order of birth and his youth was spent upon the home farm where. since old enough to handle the plow, he took his place in the fields assist- ing in the cultivation of various crops. In the winter months he managed to acquire a good education in the public schools. He worked for his father until he had received enough to purchase a small farm of eighty- eight acres adjoining the old homestead and then he was married, seeking as a compan- ien and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Keziah Jane Ary, the wedding taking place on the 30th of March. 1859. The lady resided near Paintersville, where she was born June 27. 1836. her parents being John and Margaret (Turner) Ary. Her father came to Ohio from Virginia. Her mother was of English descent and they were mar- ried in Greene county.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Beal they began their domestic life upon his farm which continued to be their home for six years, when he sold that property and pur- chased one hundred and sixty-six acres of land in Greene county. At different times he has purchased tracts of sixty, fifty-four, eleven and six acres, and in 1891 he re- moved to his present farm. Here he is suc- cessfully carrying on agricultural pursuits ; his fields are well tilled and all mo.lern equipments are found upon his place, shou - ing the owner to be a man of progressive
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spirit, who follows modern methods in car- county at a very early date in the history of ing for his property.
U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Beal have been born seven children : Elias, who married Flora Hampton, is the assistant cashier in the bank at Bowersville. Samuel Lewis mar- ried Effie Black, who died, leaving four chil- dren. Emma became the wife of Samuel Hollingworth, who resides near Burlington. in Clinton county. Charles Elmer married Julia Darst, by whom he has four children, and their home is in Jefferson township. Melville F. married Della Compton and re- sides in the village of Spring Valley, and Clinton P. complete the family. Mr. Beal was reared a Democrat and yet endorses the party. His wife is a member of the Meth- odist Protestant church. They are widely known in Greene county as worthy repre- sentatives of agricultural interests and their sterling characteristics are such as to obtain for them the warm regard of all with whom they have been associated.
JOHN A. HARNER
John .A. Harner, who is engaged in gen- eral farming in Spring Valley township, has a well improved tract of land four miles southwest of Nenia. He was born on the Little Miami river, near Bellbrook, August 31. 1836, his parents being John and Mag- dalena ( Ilaines) Harner. His paternal grandparents were George and Sarah ( Koogler ) Harner, and the former was born in Germany, whence he sailed for America when about fourteen years of age. He probably located first near Cincinnati and afterward removed to a place called Round Bottom, coming thence to Greene
the development of this portion of the state. John Harner was born in this county in 1805 and was familiar with the early prog- ress and improvement. The forests stood in their primeval strength and little was done to reclaim the land for purposes of civiliza- tion. but as the years progressed the set- tlers wrought many changes here, laying broad and deep the foundation for the pres- ent development and prosperity of the com- ty. John Harner acquired a fair common school education and served as captain of a militia in the days when mustering was in vogue. When quite young he was married, and in connection with his father-in-law he engaged in the operation of a mill and dis- tillery, conducting the business in Bellbrook. There they erected a flouring mill which they operated until about 1848, when Mr. Harner retired from the business and began farming upon rented land. At different times he rented various farms, for he was in limited circumstances and did not have the money with which to purchase land. He had ten children and the sons remained at home, all farming together.
John A. Harner, whose name introduces this record, continued with his father until thirty-two years of age. His early life was one of toil but he formed habits of industry and economy, which have proven of value to him in his later career. He was married February 13, 1868, to Miss Eliza Lantz, who was born in the first courthouse in Greene county, near Harbine Mills, August 8. 1844. She was a daughter of John and Catherine ( Rhoades) Lantz, who removed from Maryland to Greene county at an early day. In 1865 our subject and his brothers purchased two hundred and twenty-four acres of land, upon which John A. Harner
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now- resides, and after his marriage he took up his abode here. A small portion of the land had been cleared and a portion of the present house had been built, but Mr. Har- ner has since made two additions to the home. The first settler upon the place was William Hamilton, who sold the property to Robert Hamilton, from whom the Harner brothers purchased it. Our subject has erected a good bank barn, forty-two by eighty feet. but he found this inadequate and built another one. thirty-six by sixty- eight feet. He has a hog pen, thirty-six by twenty-five feet, and all the necessary out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. About 1884 he and his brothers dissolved partnership. Mr. Harner purchasing the in- terests of the others in the farm upon which he makes his home.
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